If you're considering a visit to Kuala Lumpur, you should know your options for dishes. Here's the best and most authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in Kuala Lumpur.

Have you ever had Ceylon tea before? Then that means you’ve sipped on a cup of Sri Lanka spirit before! In fact, this country is the 4th largest exporter of tea and used to bear the name of the very tea they export.

But beyond that, you probably don’t know much about Sri Lanka. And what better way to learn more about a country than to taste its dishes? After all, food is a way of expressing culture!

Have you been curious about Sri Lankan cuisine? Then you’ll want to make a reservation at Aliyaa, which offers the best and most authentic Sri Lankan dishes around.

Don’t believe us? Then read on to see why you should make a stop at Aliyaa when visiting Kuala Lumpur!

Location

You’ll find Aliyaa at 48, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara. This cute little restaurant is nestled on a strip in the heart of Damansara with other businesses, which makes it very easy to find.

There’s also plenty of parking outside. So even if you ate until your stomach felt like overflowing, your car will just be a few steps away, much to your relief!

But what does this charming Sri Lankan restaurant have to offer? Below are some key things you need to know about Aliyaa!

Signature Crab Dish

Let’s start off with what Aliyaa is known for: their signature crab dish! This restaurant actually flies in rock crabs from Sri Lanka, so you know you’re getting the real deal.

Not only can you get fresh Sri Lankan crab at Aliyaa, but you’ll get to experience the explosive flavors of the country too! For the whole crab, flavors you can get include roasted cinnamon, amma, Jaffna style, deviled, and fried.

Feeling lazy? Then you can opt for just the crab meat, where you’ll get completely deshelled crab for your pleasure. The flavors available here are roasted cinnamon, amma, Jaffna style, and varuval.

Whichever type of crab dish you choose, make sure you try at least one! We promise it’ll change your life.

Yummy Starters and Snacks

Let’s rewind a little bit and go back to starters and snacks, because it’d be a shame if we didn’t explore what Aliyaa has on the menu!

While you’re sitting around and chatting with your friends, take some time to indulge in excellent Sri Lankan starters. They include roti chicken rolls, potato patties, Lakan crab cakes, and Point Pedro Vadai, which are absolutely delicious lentil fritters!

If you’re after soothing soups, then you’ll also find those on the menu. Aliyaa has several authentic Sri Lankan soups that’ll have you sighing in happiness when you get a taste of them!

Scrumptious Kothu

For an unforgettable Sri Lankan meal, make sure you try kothu! This is where roti (a flatbread) is chopped up and then stir-fried with eggs, spices, vegetables, and protein.

At Aliyaa, you can actually choose other things for your kothu base: string hopper or puttu. String hopper is made of rice flour and puttu is made of ground rice and coconut shavings.

You can then choose between chicken, mutton, seafood, or a vegetarian version of kothu!

Fantastic Vegetarian Choices

Just 5 years ago, it was estimated that there are around 2 million vegetarians in Malaysia. Now, you can bet there are even more! So it’s probably a common experience for you to go out to eat with your friends, only to find that they’re dismayed at the menu choices.

Well, if you dine at Aliyaa, you won’t have to worry about that! Not only are there lots of vegetarian options on the menu, but they’re not just halfheartedly put on there just to cater to plant-eaters.

For example, take Aliyaa’s cashew nut curry. They’ve crafted such an incredible dish that no one would even notice there’s no meat in it. In fact, even meat-lovers will find this dish irresistible and opt for that instead of a hunk of flesh.

In addition to cashews, vegetarians can also other veggies for their dishes, such as eggplant, potato, okra, bittergourd, beetroot, leek, and dhal. You can also add a side of appam to any dish. This is a coconut and rice pancake!

If you’ve always been curious about vegetarian cuisine, we’d recommend dipping your toe in the pool at Aliyaa. You might love what you taste so much that you’ll decide to dive right in!

Spice up Your Life

There’s one thing you should know about eating in Sri Lanka (or dining at a Sri Lankan restaurant): things get hot! And we don’t mean temperature-wise either.

Traditionally, Sri Lankan food is very spicy. For those of you who love spice and can’t get enough of it, your eyes will be watering when you dine at Aliyaa, but in a good way!

Otherwise, if you’re mild-mouthed, know that the cheef can definitely accommodate you. All you have to do is mention your intolerance of spicy foods to the waiter and they’ll be sure to let the chef know to tone it down a little.

Experience the Best Sri Lankan Cuisine at Aliyaa

When it comes to Sri Lankan cuisine in Kuala Lumpur, there’s no doubt that you need to head over to Aliyaa. Whether it’s their signature crab dish or the various tasty vegetarian meals, we guarantee that there’s something for everyone at this restaurant.

So the next time you and your pals want to go eat and hang out, we highly recommend Aliyaa. This Sri Lankan establishment will give you a taste of this wonderful nation and expand your palate in ways you’d never imagined before!

Want to explore more when it comes to Kuala Lumpur restaurants? Then read our article on the best vegetarian restaurants in KL!